HIGHLIGHTED TOPIC:

Penetrometer, Simple, Apollo

For the Apollo 14 mission, a special instrument was provided that enabled the Lunar Module Pilot, Edgar Mitchell, to take rough measurements of the penetrability of the lunar surface. Referred to as the Apollo Simple Penetrometer (ASP), the shaft was provided with a conical tip and calibrated along its length with black and white markings. At three different locations, Mitchell, after attaching the shaft to an extension handle, first pressed it into the surface with one hand and called out how far it penetrated. He then pushed harder with two hands and reported the results.

This item was used for training and transferred to the Smithsonian in 1974.

For the Apollo 14 mission, a special instrument was provided that enabled the Lunar Module Pilot, Edgar Mitchell, to take rough measurements of the penetrability of the lunar surface. Referred to as the Apollo Simple Penetrometer (ASP), the shaft was provided with a conical tip and calibrated along its length with black and white markings. At three different locations, Mitchell, after attaching the shaft to an extension handle, first pressed it into the surface with one hand and called out how far it penetrated. He then pushed harder with two hands and reported the results.

This item was used for training and transferred to the Smithsonian in 1974.